TY - JOUR T1 - Worldwide news and comment JF - Tobacco Control JO - Tob Control SP - 691 LP - 693 DO - 10.1136/tc-2022-057773 VL - 31 IS - 6 AU - Karen Evans-Reeves AU - John Baker Y1 - 2022/11/01 UR - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/31/6/691.abstract N2 - All articles written by Karen Evans-Reeves and John Baker unless otherwise attributed. Ideas and items for News Analysis should be sent to k.a.evans-reeves@bath.ac.ukWhile global smoking rates decline, Africa is an opportunity for tobacco companies to grow their businessThe seventh edition of the global Tobacco Atlas was published on 18th May 2022.For the first time ever, global smoking prevalence has declined. But there is little room for complacency. There are still 1.3 billion people who smoke worldwide, which means much more tobacco related illness and deaths to come. Also, while many countries are seeing significant declines in smoking prevalence, 63 countries out of the 135 surveyed have reported increases in smoking prevalence in 13–15 year olds. In addition, in Africa, where typically smoking prevalence has been low, smoking is on the rise. According to the Tobacco Atlas this rise is in no small part due to the tobacco industry’s aggressive marketing practices on the continent and an increase in the affordability of tobacco products. Such increases in prevalence will undoubtedly increase tobacco related disease, suffering, and death.The Atlas emphasises the importance of countries implementing evidence-based tobacco control measures, namely, tobacco tax increases, marketing restrictions and counter messaging such as plain packaging and pictorial health warnings, as well as anti-smoking mass media campaigns. While impactful in their own right, these policies are likely to have the most impact when implemented together.Nepal to increase Pictorial Health Warnings after mountainous challengeIn August 2022, the Nepal Supreme Court ruled in favour of mandating printed Pictorial Health Warnings (PHWs) on 90% of all tobacco packaging.Nepal had originally passed rules to enlarge PHWs from 75% to 90% in 2015; however, tobacco company Perfect Blend (which is owned by Surya Nepal Ltd, which is part owned by ITC Limited, India, and British American Tobacco) filed a petition to Nepal’s Supreme Court challenging the introduction of this law.Action Nepal, a public health advocacy organisation, filed … ER -